Danao mayor ordered to pay salaries of casuals

A Danao City court yesterday ordered Danao Mayor Ramon “Boy” Durano Jr. and two officials to pay the salaries and benefits of 238 casual workers.

Regional Trial Court Judge Sylvia Aguirre-Paderanga of Branch 25 reaffirmed the validity of a 20-day temporary restraining order against Mayor Durano, budget officer Teresita Almacen, and human resources officer Galacito Camaongay.

The judge also dismissed the petition for declaratory relief filed by the mayor against Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III and the City Council for the 250 casual employees in the proposed budget for 2012.

This developed after Mayor Durano and his lawyer failed to appear in court for a pre-trial conference last July 30.

“The casual workers are happy. They can have a chance to get their salaries. Their families depend on them,” said Danao City Council John Cane.

He said the mayor should comply with the court order and process the salaries of the workers.

“They should obey otherwise there will be chaos if no one believes the court anymore,” he said.

Cane said they will ask the court to cite the mayor in contempt if Durano continues to disregard the court order.

The case has been one of several thorns in the Durano family feud between the mayor and his younger brother, the vice mayor.

The mayor was earlier ordered to desist from enforcing his memorandum to suspend the processing of payments to the casual workers.

The mayor vowed not to heed the court order. The casual workers earlier filed a petition for mandamus and sought the issuance of a TRO, injunction, and damages.

They accused the mayor and the two city officials of not complying with provisions of a city ordinance regarding salaries, wages and benefits.

The casual employees said their payrolls were submitted to Almacen who refused to act on it.

The mayor sought a TRO from the court to stop the council from processing the release of P43 million for the casual employees.

Mayor Boy’s lawyer Gloria Lastimosa-Dalawampu said the budget “insertions” are “unlawful.”

She said the 238 casual workers were not included in the proposed budget for 2012 since their “services have ended.”

The casual employees are working in the City Council which is presided by Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano, estranged brother of the mayor.